PREPARING FOR A HEALTH CAREER AT GUSTAVUS Jeff Stocco Career Center

PREPARING FOR A HEALTH CAREER AT GUSTAVUS Jeff Stocco Career Center Director and Health Professions Coordinator 1

OVERVIEW OF HEALTH CAREERS Health Services largest industry in 2003 with 12.9 million jobs 10 out of 20 occupations projected to grow the fastest are in health services 16% of all new wage and salary jobs from 2003-2012 will be in health services 2

WHY THE GROWTH? Aging Population Advances in Medical Technology Shift from in-patient to out-patient care 3

FASTEST GROWING OCCUPATIONS Psychologists Social Workers Physicians/Surgeons Occupational Therapists Physical Therapists Clinical Lab Technologists Medical Records Technician Many Assistant-type Positions 4

Q: How many students do “Health Careers” at Gustavus? A: over 200 each year say pre-health Fall 2007 enrollment in medical programs: 14 medical school 4 pharmacy 5 dentistry 2 optometry 2 chiropractic 2 veterinary medicine 1 podiatric medicine 3 graduate nursing 3 physical therapy 2 speech pathology 2 physician assistant 2 exercise physiology 1 public health 1 audiology 5

Fall 2008 Admits, medical schools Medicine Loyola Stritch U of MN U of MN – Duluth Wake Forest Medical College of Wisconsin (’08 & ’04) Harvard (’07) Colorado (’00) Chicago (’06) Mayo Medical School (’07) 6

Fall ’08 Admits Other health professions Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy U of MN U of Colorado Nursing (BSN) U of MN Pharmacy Ohio State Dentistry U of Iowa College of St. Catherine Optometry Mayo School of Health Sciences U of MN MN State, Moorhead Chiropractic Northwestern Health Sciences 7

Fall ’08, Health-related specialties Kinesiology/Exercise Physiology Kansas State UW – LaCrosse Montana State Sports Medicine U of Colorado Fitness Management MN State, Mankato Biomedical Engineering U of MN Epidemiology London School of Hygiene Biomedical Science Colorado State 8

Q: What health-related bachelors degrees are offered at Gustavus? A: Athletic Training Health Fitness Nursing Health Education 9

Q: For pre-health professions, how would Gustavus help? A: Extremely strong science departments and many research opportunities. Liberal arts degree in any area as long as prerequisites are completed Possible Majors: Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, English, Biochemistry, Art, Music, Health Education, Health & Exercise Science 10

Q: Where does the Career Center fit in? A1 Career Planning – assist students with the process of identifying careers A2 Internships January Term shadowing experiences Semester internships A3 Health Professions advising Information on health careers Specific advising for medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy General advising for all other health professions Health Professions Guide for 13 professions http://gustavus.edu/careercenter/health/ 11

CAREER CENTER Resources -books, journals, pamphlets -general career information Staff -classes/fairs related to careers -1:1 career counseling -job search & graduate school application assistance Web site -Internships -G-Net - Mentors -Health Professions Guide 12

Health Professions Coordinator -career counseling on various health professions - explore talents and interests -advice on prerequisites, training and program selection -assistance with application & recommendation process -advice on MCAT preparation -health professions events (on and off campus) -relationships with professional schools -work with pre-health club on campus -prospective student presentations/meetings 13

Q: Two advisors – how does that work? Faculty advisor Academic dept. Register for classes Work on graduation requirements Work on major requirements Pre-health advisor Career Center Requirements for med school Med school app. process MCAT Personal statement AMCAS Secondary app. Strengthen app. Practice interviews 14

PROGRAM ADVISORS John Mattson Pre-Occupational Therapy Pre-Physical Therapy Bruce Van Duser Health Fitness Margaret Bloch-Qazi Pre-Veterinary Paula Swiggum Nursing & Pre-Public Health Jeanne Herman Health Education John Mattson Athletic Training Jeff Stocco Pre-Medical, Pre-Dent, & Pre-Pharmacy Career Center Other Health Professions 15

STUDENT PREPARATION Study hard and take required courses Maintain good grades (in college, 2 As for every B) Career Exploration & Volunteer Work Shadowing of health professionals A pattern of commitment to service “the distance traveled” Internships in college 16

Q:WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COLLEGE COURSES? A: Biology Chemistry Physics Calculus Social Sciences Literature Humanities 2 courses 4 courses 2 courses 1-2 courses 2 courses 3 courses 2 courses 17

Q: How do parents help? Encourage exploration into health professions websites, career resource books, mentoring and shadowing opportunities Summer jobs leadership skills & experience in health care and human service settings Your student may change directions – be open, encouraging, and flexible 18

Who Gets Admitted to Medical School? Cumulative GPA of 3.7 or better, especially in science courses MCAT composite score of 30 or better with a grade of P or Q on the writing portion of the test Well-rounded background including community service “a pattern of service to others” Demonstrating that you’ve moved from “I like the IDEA of being a physician” to “I want to BE a physician” Experience, including internships and Career Explorations Personal statement, interviews, letters of recommendation 19

QUESTIONS? Good luck with your decisions! 20